Reversible push block-rear bumper and pintle hook assemblies

ABSTRACT

A reversible push block-rear bumper assembly for attachment to a motor vehicle is provided in which a support unit having a forwardly inclined downwardly extending surface is secured to the underside of a vehicle in close proximity to the rear end of the vehicle. A block unit having an upper incline surface which can be mated with the forwardly incline downwardly extending surface of the support unit is also provided, such surfaces being adapted so that when the block unit and support unit are secured together, the block unit will either extend downwardly from the support unit in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle and thus function as a bumper or, upon rotating the block unit 180° into a reverse position, the block unit will extend outwardly from the rear end portion of the vehicle for use as a push block. An extension unit for modifying the length as well, as the angular relationship of the block unit to the support means, is also provided. In addition, an improved pintle hook assembly for attachment to the support unit is set forth.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 063,959, filedAug. 6, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,369.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to vehicle accessories, and more particularly toan improved push block-rear bumper assembly for wheeled vehicles. In oneaspect it relates to a reversible push block-rear bumper assembly usefulas a push block or rear bumper for a wheeled vehicle. In yet anotheraspect, the invention relates to an improved pintle hook assembly forattachment to the rear end portion of a wheeled vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A push block is a feature frequently provided on trailers as a contactpoint for pushing the trailer out of a position in which it has becomestuck. Several problems have arisen with the conventional block whichpermanently projects from the rear of the trailer. First, governmentalrestrictions on overhanging loads and on overall trailer lengths havemade it more difficult to carry a conventional projecting push blockduring ordinary highway operation. Second, because overseas shippingrates for trailers are based on the volume occupied by the trailer, theprojecting push block makes an undue contribution to the trailersfreight cost. Finally, the projecting push block hampers connection oftwo trailers and/or a helper dolly to form a train.

Numerous types of bumpers have likewise been employed by trucks andtrailers. Such bumpers are generally of extremely heavy construction andmust be capable of absorbing heavy shock loads due to the relativelylarge inertia of such vehicles. However, problems have been encounteredin the fabrication and attachment of bumpers to the rear portions ofsuch trucks and trailers in that the bumper must be designed to notunduly increase the weight of the vehicle and thus reduce the payloadwhich the vehicle can carry; while, at the same time, the bumper shouldbe capable of being positioned so as to not substantially increase thelength of the vehicle. Many of the prior art devices, in order toovercome such problems, have suggested the use of pivoted bumper unitswhich can be swung into or out of position depending upon the desires ofthe operator of the vehicle. However, such pivotably attached bumperunits generally either do not provide the desired rigidity or cannotabsorb the relatively heavy impact loads which such bumpers oftenencounter. In addition, such prior art bumpers often extend rearwardlyfrom the vehicle thus increasing its overall length.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an improved pushblock-rear bumper assembly which does not suffer from the disadvantageshereinbefore set forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pushblock-rear bumper combination assembly which can be employed as a bumperwithout increasing the overall length of the vehicle; or can be, whendesired, placed in a projected position for use as a push block.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pintle hookassembly for attachment to the rear end portion of a vehicle.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from areading of the following detailed description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the push block-rear bumper assembly ofthe present invention attached to the rear end portion of a trailer inwhich the assembly is employed as a bumper.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the push block-rear bumper assembly ofthe present invention secured to the rear end portion of a trailer inwhich the assembly is employed as a push block.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the push block-rearbumper assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the push block-rear bumper assembly incombination with an extension unit for modifying the length and theangular disposition of the push block.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the extension unit and push block-rearbumper assembly secured to the frame structure of a vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the extension unit of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a trailer having the pintle hookassembly of the present invention attached thereto rearwardly of saidtrailer.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the pintle hookassembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the pintle hook assembly secured to theframe of a trailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like and/or similar parts andelements will be designated by the same numeral, and particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle 10, such as a truck or trailer, includes aframe (not shown) mounted on a plurality of wheels, such as rear wheels12, by axles, such as rear axle 14, and the axles are secured to theframe of vehicle 10 by means well known in the art. Push block-rearbumper assembly 16 is secured to the rearward end 18 of vehicle 10 at aposition substantially intermediate and rearward of the wheels 12 sothat the push block-rear bumper assembly 16, when employed as a rearbumper 20 for the vehicle 10, as depicted in FIG. 1, extends downwardlyfrom the frame of the vehicle 10 and the rearward surface of the rearbumper 20 is substantially aligned with the rearward surface 22 of therearward end 18 of vehicle 10; whereas, when push block-rear bumperassembly 16 is employed as a push block 24 for vehicle 10, as depictedin FIG. 2, the push block-rear bumper assembly 16 is adjusted andrepositioned so that the push block 24 projects rearwardly beyond therearward surface 22 of the rearward end 18 of vehicle 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in combination with FIGS. 1 and 2, the pushblock-rear bumper assembly 16 includes a support assembly 26 and a blockmember 28. The support assembly 26 includes a first beam 32 having anupper side 34, a lower side 36, a first side 38, an opposed second side40, a forward end (not shown), a rearward end 42 and a lower rearwardend support surface 44; a second beam 46 having an upper side 48, alower side 50, a first side 52, an opposed second side 54, a forward end(not shown), a rearward end 56, and a lower rearward end support surface58; the second beam 46 being spaced a distance 60 from the first beam 32and extending generally parallel to the disposition of the first beam32; and, a support plate 61. Desirably, the first beam 32 and the secondbeam 46 form a part of the longitudinal frame or substructure of vehicle10. The rearward ends 42 and 56 of the first beam 32 and the second beam46 terminate at an equal distance from the rearward surface 22 ofvehicle 10 so that when block member 28 is secured to the lower rearwardend support surface 44 of the first beam 32 and the lower rearward endsupport surface 58 of the second beam 46 through support plate 61 foruse as a rear bumper 20, the rearward surface 80 of the block member 28will be substantially aligned with an imaginary vertical plane adjacentthe rearward surface 22 of the rearward end 18 of the vehicle 10.

The lower rearward end support surface 44 of the rearward end 42 of thefirst beam 32 is forwardly inclined from the upper portion of therearward end 42 of the first beam 32 to the lower side 36 of the firstbeam 32; and the lower rearward end support surface 58 of the rearwardend 56 of the second beam 46 is likewise forwardly inclined from theupper portion of the rearward end 56 of the second beam 46 to the lowerside 50 of the second beam 46. The degree of inclination of the lowerrearward end support surface 44 of the first beam 32 and the lowerrearward end support surface 58 of the second beam 46 can vary. However,the degree of inclination of both of the lower rearward end supportsurfaces 44 and 58 of the first and second beams 32 and 46 issubstantially the same and the lower rearward end support surfaces 44and 58 form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the first andthe second beams 32 and 46.

The support plate 61 includes a first connecting surface 62, a secondopposed support surface 64, a first end 66, a second end end 68 and anenlarged opening 70. The purpose of the enlarged opening 70 within thesupport plate 61 will be discussed hereinafter. The support plate 61 isof sufficient size so that when the first connecting surface 62 of thesupport plate 61 is positioned adjacent the lower rearward end supportsurfaces 44 and 58 of the first and the second beams 32 and 46,respectively, and the support plate 61 is thereafter secured to thefirst and second beams 32 and 46, by any suitable means such as welding,the first end 66 of the support plate 61 will extend outwardly from thefirst side 38 of the first beam 32, the second opposed end 68 of thesupport plate 61 will extend outwardly from the second opposed side 54of the second beams 46, and the enlarged opening 70 in the support plate61 will be disposed between the second opposed side 40 of the first beam32 and the facing first side 52 of the second beam 46. Thus, when thesupport plate 61 is secured to the first and second beams 32 and 46 sothat the first connecting surface 62 of the support plate 61 abuts thelower rearward end support surfaces 44 and 58 of the first and thesecond beams 32 and 46, the second opposed support surface 64 of thesupport plate 61 will be provided with a degree of inclinationcorresponding to the degree of inclination of the lower rearward endsupport surfaces 44 and 58 of the first and second beams 32 and 46.

The first end 66 of the support plate 61 which extends outwardly fromthe first side 38 of the first beam 32 and the second opposed end 68which extends outwardly from the second side 54 of the second beam 46are each provided with a plurality of apertures 72 and 72',respectively. The first end 66 and the second opposed end 68 of thesupport plate 61 serve as flanges for securing block member 28 thereto.

The block member 28 is provided with a first side 74, an opposed secondside 76, a forward side 78, an opposed rearward side 80, an upper end 82having an inclined surface 84, an opposed lower end 86, an enlargedopening 88, and a bumper plate 90. The upper end 82 of block member 28is further characterized as having a first end portion 92 which extendsoutwardly from the first side 74 of the block member 28; and an opposedsecond end portion 94 which extends outwardly from the opposed secondside 76 of the block member 28. The first end portion 92 and the opposedsecond end portion 94 of the block member 28 are provided with aplurality of apertures 96 and 96', respectively.

The degree of inclination of the inclined surface 84 of the upper end 82of the block member 28 can vary widely and will be dependent to a largeextent upon the degree of inclination of the second opposed supportsurface 64 of the support plate 61 and the desired angular dispositionof the block member 28 since the inclined surface 84 of the upper end 82of the block member 28 is mated with the second opposed support surface64 of the support plate 61 when the block member 28 is secured to thesupport plate 61.

By providing the inclined surface 84 of the upper end 82 of the blockmember 28 with substantially the same degree of inclination as thesecond opposed support surface 64 of support plate 61, the block member28 can be secured to the support plate 61 so that the block member 28extends downwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the first beam 32 and the second beam 46 (as shownin FIG. 1), and the opposed rearward side 80 of the block member 28 willbe substantially aligned with the rearward surface 22 of the rearwardend 18 of the vehicle 10; or the block member 28 can be rotated 180° sothat the forward side 78 of the block member 28 can be viewed whenlooking at the rearward end 18 of the vehicle 10, as shown in FIG. 2,and the opposed lower end 86 of the block member 28 having bumper plate90 secured thereto projects rearwardly beyond the rearward surface 22 ofthe rearward end 18 of the vehicle 10.

The securing of the block member 28 to support plate 61 is accomplishedby abutting the inclined surface 84 of the upper end 82 of the blockmember 28 with the second opposed support surface 64 of the supportplate 61, aligning the aperture 72 (within the first end 66 of thesupport plate 61) with the apertures 96 (in the first end portion 92 ofthe upper end 82 of the block member 28), and the apertures 72' (withinthe second opposed end 68 of the support plate 61) with the apertures96' (in the second opposed end portion 94 of the upper end 82 of theblock member 28), and positioning a bolt 98 into each of the alignedapertures 72 and 96 and a bolt 98' into each of the aligned apertures72' and 96'. The bolts 98 and 98' are secured in place by nuts 100 and100', respectively.

The enlarged opening 88 of the block member 28 serves to reduce theoverall weight of the block member 28 to facilitate removal andreattachment of the block member 28 to the vehicle when it is desirableto change the use of the block member from that of a rear bumper 20 tothat of a push block 24, or from that of a push block 24 to that of arear bumper 20.

Bumper plate 90, depicted as having a generally curved outer surface102, is fixably secured to the opposed lower end 86 of the block member28. Bumper plate 90 thus provides an enlarged surface area for contactwith a second vehicle's bumper when the block member 28 is in arearwardly extended position for use as a push block as depicted in FIG.2.

In some instances it may be desirable to alter the angular dispositionor rearward extension length of the block member 28, when the blockmember 28 is in a rearwardly extended position for use as a push block.In such instances, the angular disposition of the block member 28 can bealtered by positioning an extension member 104 (FIG. 5) between thesecond opposed support surface 64 of support plate 61 and the inclinedsurface 84 of the upper end 82 of the block member 28 and securing theextension member thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, extension member 104 is provided withan upper side 106 having an upper connecting surface 108, a loweropposed side 110 having a lower opposed support surface 112, a firstside 114, a second opposed side 116, a first end 118 and a secondopposed end 120. The upper side 106 is spaced a distance from theopposed lower side 110 in a non-parallel relation thereby providing theupper connecting surface 108 of the upper side 106 with a differentdegree of inclination than the lower support surface 112 of the loweropposed side 110. In order to obtain maximum strength with minimumweight, extension member 104 is desirably fabricated of a plurality ofplates secured together, such as by welding, thereby providing extensionmember 104 with a hollow center.

The upper side 106 of the extension member 104 includes a first endportion 122 having a plurality of aperture 124 therein, an opposedsecond end portion 126 having a plurality of apertures 124' therein, andan enlarged opening 127 positioned intermediate the apertures 124 and124' in the first and second end portions 122 and 126 thereof. The loweropposed side 110 is likewise provided with a first end portion 128having a plurality of apertures 130 therein, an opposed second endportion 132 having a plurality of apertures 130' therein, and anenlarged opening 134 positioned intermediate the apertures 130 and 130'in the first and second end portions 128 and 132, respectively, theapertures 130' and the enlarged opening 134 being shown in phantom inFIG. 6.

The enlarged opening 127 and the apertures 124 and 124' in the upperside 106 of the extension member 104 are positioned therein so as to bealignable with the enlarged opening 70 and the apertures 72 and 72' ofthe support plate 61. Thus, extension member 104 can be secured tosupport plate 61 by abutting the upper connecting surface 108 of theupper side 106 of the extension member 104 with the second opposedsupport surface 64 of the support plate 61, aligning the apertures 124and 124' of the upper side 106 of extension member 104 with theapertures 72 and 72' within the support plate 61 and securing bolts,such as by a plurality of bolts 136, in the aligned apertures 72 and 124and 72' and 124' by nuts 138 (only one bolt 136 and nut 138 are shown inFIG. 5 to simplify the drawing). The alignment of the enlarged opening127 of the upper side 106 of the extension member 104 with the enlargedopening 70 of support plate 61 allows one to more readily have access tothe interior hollow portion of extension member 104 to thus facilitateconnecting the block member 30 to the opposed lower side 110 of theextension member 104.

As previously stated, the lower opposed side 110 of the extension member104 is also provided with an enlarged opening 134 and a plurality ofapertures 130 and 130'. The apertures 130 and 130' in the lower opposedside 110 of the extension member 104 are positioned therein so as to bealignable with the apertures 96 and 96', respectively, in the first endportion 92 and the second opposed end portion 94 of the upper end 82 ofthe block member 28. Thus, the block member 28 can be secured to theextension member 104 by abutting the inclined surface 84 of the upperend 82 of the block member 28 with the lower opposed support surface 112of the lower opposed side 110 of extension member 104, aligning theapertures 96 and 96' in the first end portion 92 and the second opposedend portion 94 of the upper end 82 of the block member 28 with theapertures 130 and 130', respectively, in the lower opposed side 110 ofextension member 104 and securing bolts 140 in the aligned apertures bynuts 142.

As is evident from the configuration of the extension member 104,including the non-parallel relationship of the upper connecting surface108 of upper side 106 with the lower opposed support surface 112 oflower opposed side 110, the attachment of the block member 28 to thesupport plate 61 through the extension member 104 alters the pitch orangular disposition of the block member 28 with respect to the supportplate 61 and thus the inclined surface of the lower rearward end supportsurfaces 44 and 58 of the first beam 32 and the second beam 46.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the vehicle 10, as described above, includes aframe (not shown) mounted on a plurality of wheels, such as rear wheels12, by axles, such as rear axles 14, and the axles are secured to theframe of the vehicle 10 by means well known in the art. Pintle hookassembly 160 is secured to the rearward end 18 of vehicle 10 at aposition substantially intermediate and rearward of the wheels 12.Details of the pintle hook assembly 160 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 8 and 9 in combination with FIG. 7.

The pintle hook assembly 160 includes the support assembly 26, a pintlehook support assembly 162 and pintle hook assembly 164. The supportassembly 26 is the identical support assembly hereinbefore describedwith respect to the push block rear bumper assembly. As previouslystated, the support assembly includes a first beam 32 having an upperside 34, a lower side 36, a first side 38, an opposed second side 40, aforward end (not shown), a rearward end 42 and a lower rearward endsupport surface 44; a second beam 46 having an upper side 48, a lowerside 50, a first side 52, an opposed second side 54, a forward end (notshown), a rearward end 56 and a lower rearward end support surface 58,the second beam 46 being spaced a distance 60 from the first beam 32 andextending generally parallel to the disposition of the first beam 32;and a support plate 61. Desirably, the first beam 32 and the second beam46 form a part of the frame or substructure of vehicle 10. The rearwardends 42 and 56 of the first beam 32 and the second beam 46 terminate atan equal distance from the rearward surface 72 of vehicle 10 so thatwhen the pintle hook support assembly 162 is secured to the lowerrearward end support surface 44 of the first beam 32 and the lowerrearward end support surface 58 of the second beam 46 through thesupport plate 61, the rearward surface 166 of the pintle hook supportassembly 162 will be disposed in a vertical plane rearward the rearwardsurface 22 of the rearward end 18 of the vehicle 10.

The lower rearward end support surface 44 of the rearward end 42 of thefirst beam 32 is forwardly inclined from the upper portion of therearward end 42 of the first beam 32 to the lower side 36 of the firstbeam 32; and the lower rearward end support surface 58 of the rearwardend 56 of the second beam 46 is likewise forwardly inclined from theupper portion of the rearward end 56 of the second beam 46 to the lowerside 50 of the second beam 46. The degree of inclination of the lowerrearward end support surface 44 of the first beam 32 and the lowerrearward end support surface 58 of the second beam 46 can vary. However,the degree of inclination of both of the lower rearward end supportsurfaces 44 and 58 of the first and second beams 32 and 46 issubstantially the same and the lower rearward end support surfaces 44and 58 form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the first andthe second beams 32 and 46.

The support plate 61 includes a first connecting surface 62, a secondopposed support surface 64, a first end 66, a second opposed end 68 andan enlarged opening 70. The support plate 61 is of sufficient size sothat when the first connecting surface 62 of the support plate 61 ispositioned adjacent the lower rearward end support surface 44 and 58 ofthe first and the second beams 32 and 46, respectively, and the supportplate 61 is thereafter secured to the first and second beams 32 and 46,by any suitable means such as welding, the first end 66 of the supportplate 61 will extend outwardly from the first side 38 of the first beam32, the second opposed end 68 of the support plate 61 will extendoutwardly from the second opposed side 54 of the second beams 46, andthe enlarged opening 70 in the support plate 61 will be disposed betweenthe second opposed side 40 of the first beam 32 and the facing firstside 52 of the second beam 46. Thus, when the support plate 61 issecured to the first and second beams 32 and 46 so that the firstconnecting surface 62 of the support plate 61 abuts the lower rearwardend support surfaces 44 and 58 of the first and the second beams 32 and46, the second opposed support surface 64 of the support plate 61 willbe provided with a degree of inclination corresponding to the degree ofinclination of the lower rearward end support surfaces 44 and 58 of thefirst and second beams 32 and 46.

The first end 66 of the support plate 61 which extends outwardly fromthe first side 38 of the first beam 32 and the second opposed end 68which extends outwardly from the second side 54 of the second beam 46are each provided with a plurality of apertures 72 and 72',respectively. The first end 66 and the second opposed end 68 of supportplate 61 serve as flanges for securing pintle hook support assembly 162thereto.

Pintle hook support assembly 162, a reinforced structure formed of aplurality of plates fixably secured together, such as by welding, so asto have a configuration substantially as shown, includes an upperconnecting side 168 having an upper connecting surface 170, a lower side172, flange 174, a vertically disposed rearward side 176 having arearward surface 166, a first end 178 and a second opposed end 180.Upper connecting side 168, flange 174 and vertically disposed rearwardside 176 cooperate to form an acute angular relationship 182 betweenupper connecting side 168 and vertically disposed rearward side 176. Theacute angular relationship 182 between upper connecting side 168 andvertically disposed rearward side 176 is such that when the upperconnecting surface 170 of the upper connecting side 168 is abutted withthe second support surface 64 of support plate 61, and the upperconnecting side 168, and thus pintle hook support assembly 162, issecured to support plate 61, the vertical plane of the rearward surface166 of vertically disposed rearward side 176 of the pintle hook supportassembly 162 is substantially perpendicular to the elongated axis of thefirst beam 32 and the second beam 46 of the support assembly 26.

Upper connecting side 168 of pintle hook support assembly 162 isprovided with a plurality of apertures 184 and 184' in its opposed endportions which can be aligned with the apertures 72 and 72' in the firstend 66 and the second opposed end 68, respectively, of the support plate61. Thus, pintle hook support assembly 162 can be secured to the supportplate 61 by abutting the second opposed support surface 64 of thesupport plate 61 with the upper connecting surface 170 of the upperconnecting side 168 of the pintle hook support assembly 162, aligningthe apertures 184 and 184' in the upper connecting side 168 of thepintle hook support assembly 162 with the apertures 72 and 72' in thefirst end 66 and the second opposed end 68 of the support plate 61,respectively, and positioning a plurality of bolts 186 and 186' in thealigned apertures 184 and 72, and 184' and 72', respectively. Bolts 186and 186' are secured in place by nuts 188 and 188', respectively. Theupper connecting side 168 of the pintle hook support assembly 162 isfurther provided within an enlarged opening 190 positioned so as to bealignable with the enlarged opening 70 in the support plate 61 so thatupon securing the pintle hook support assembly 162 to the supportassembly 26, one can readily have access to the hollow interior of thepintle hook support assembly 162 to facilitate connecting units, such aspintle hook assembly 164, to the rearward surface 166 of the verticallydisposed rearward side 176 of the pintle hook support assembly 162.

The lower side 172 of the pintle hook support assembly 162 is alsoprovided with an enlarged opening 192 (shown in phantom) to furtherincrease the access to the interior of the pintle hook support assembly62. Access to the interior of the pintle hook support assembly 162facilitates the operator of the vehicle in securing the pintle hookassembly 164 to the rearward surface 166 of the vertically disposedrearward side 176 of the pintle hook support assembly 162.

The vertically disposed rearward side 176 of the pintle hook supportassembly 162 is provided with a bore 194 positioned within the centralportion thereof. A plurality of apertures 196 are likewise provided inthe vertically disposed rearward side 176 of the pintle hook supportassembly, the apertures 192 and the bore 190 cooperating in theattachment of the pintle hook assembly 164 to the vertically disposedrearward side 176 of the pintle hook support assembly.

Pintle hook assembly 164 includes a support plate 198 having a forwardsurface 200; an opposed rearward surface 202; a bore (not shown)positioned within the central portion of the support plate 198, and aplurality of apertures 204 positioned within the support plate 198; anda pintle hook 206 having a first end 208 forming the latch mechanism anda second opposed end 210 of a substantially cylindrical configurationwhich is provided with nut engaging threads 212 for engaging a nut 214.The pintle hook 206 is secured to the opposed rearward surface 202 ofthe support plate 198 so that the first end 208 forming the latchmechanism of the pintle hook 206 extends away from the opposed rearwardsurface 202 of the support plate 198 (as shown in the drawing) and thesecond opposed end 210 is positioned in and extends through the bore(not shown) of the support plate 198.

To attach the pintle hook assembly 164 to the vertically disposedrearward side 176 of the pintle hook support assembly 162, the forwardsurface 200 of the support plate 198 is abutted to the rearward surface166 of the vertically disposed rearward side 176 of the pintle hooksupport assembly 162 so that the bore 194 receives the second opposedend 210 of the pintle hook 206 positioned in and extending through thebore (not shown) of the support plate 198 of the pintle hook assembly164; and, the apertures 196 in the vertically disposed rearward side 176of the pintle hook support assembly 162 are aligned with the apertures204 in the support plate 198 of the pintle hook assembly 164. The pintlehook assembly 164 is thereafter secured to the vertically disposedrearward side 176 of the pintle hook support assembly 162 by securingnut 214 on the nut engaging threads 212 of the second opposed end 210 ofthe pintle hook 206 and by positioning a plurality of bolts 216 in thealigned apertures 196 and 204 of the vertically disposed rearward side176 of the pintle hook support assembly 162 and of the support plate 198of the pintle hook assembly 164, respectively, and securing the bolts216 therein by nuts 218.

The unique angular relationship provided by the cooperation of the firstbeam 32, the second beam 46 and the support plate 61 with the blockmember 28 or with the pintle hook support assembly 162 readily allowsthe operator of the vehicle 10 to interchangably provide the vehicle 10with a rear bumper, a push block, or a pintle hook. Such isaccomplished, not only by the unique angular relationship createdbetween the first beam 32, the second beam 46, the support plate 61 andthe block member 28 or the pintle hook support assembly 162, but also bythe unique structural characteristics of each.

It is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as thoseinherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerouschanges may be made which will readily suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of theinvention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved pintle hook assembly for attachmentto the rear end portion of a vehicle which comprises:(a) support meanssecured to the under side of the vehicle in close proximity to the rearend portion of the vehicle, said first support means having a forwardlyinclined downwardly extending rearward support surface; (b) pintle hooksupport means having an upper support member and a vertically disposedrearward member connected to said upper support member, said uppersupport member having an inclined connecting surface for mating with theforwardly inclined downwardly extending rearward support surface of saidsupport means; (c) pintle hook means secured to the vertically disposedrearward member of said pintle hook support means so that said pintlehook means extends in a rearward direction therefrom; and (d) firstfastening means for securing the inclined connecting surface of saidpintle hook support means to the support surface of said support means.2. The improved pintle hook assembly according to claim 1 wherein saidupper support member is provided with a first end and an opposed secondend and said vertically disposed rearward member is provided with afirst end and a second end, and said pintle hook support means furtherincludes:a flange member having a first end and an opposed second endinterconnecting said upper support member and said vertically disposedrearward member; a first end member secured to the first ends of saidupper support member, said vertically disposed rearward member and saidflange member; a second end member secured to the second ends of saidupper support member, said vertically disposed rearward member and saidflange member; and a lower member interconnecting said upper supportmember, said vertically disposed rearward member and said first andsecond end members.
 3. The improved pintle hook assembly according toclaim 1 which further includes a support plate secured to the verticallydisposed rearward member and positioned between said vertically disposedrearward member and said pintle hook, said support plate and saidvertically disposed rearward member each having a bore extendingtherethrough which are alignable one with another, and wherein saidpintle hook means comprises a substantially cylindrical body member anda latch means secured at one end thereof, said body member adapted to bepositioned with the aligned bores of said support plate and saidvertically disposed rearward member so that the latch means extendsrearwardly from said vertically disposed rearward member; and secondfastening means for securing said body member to said verticallydisposed rearward member.
 4. The improved pintle hook assembly accordingto claim 3 wherein said support means includes:a pair of longitudinallyextending beams forming a portion of the longitudinal frame structure ofthe vehicle, said support beams being maintained in a spaced, parallelrelationship, each of said support beams having their rearwardlyextending end portion beveled to provide a forwardly inclined downwardlyextending support surface which forms an acute angle with thelongitudinal axis of said beams; and a support plate securely attachedto the forwardly inclined downwardly extending support surfaces of saidbeams thereby providing an enlarged support surface having substantiallythe same angular relationship as the beveled end portions of said beams,said support plate being further provided with an enlarged, elongatedopening therein intermediate the areas of contact between said supportplate and said beams.